Bills hosting former Seahawks CB Deshawn Shead on free agent visit

The Buffalo Bills have been hard at work re-tooling their defense throughout the start of the 2017 NFL free agency period, acquiring players that fit in new coach Sean McDermott’s scheme. The team signed former Green Bay Packers cornerback/safety Micah Hyde to a five-year, $30.5 million contract and former Cleveland Browns safety Jordan Poyer to a four-year, $13 million deal.

It appears that they aren’t done just yet, as ESPN’s Seattle Seahawks beat reporter Shiel Kapadia reported on Wednesday that the Bills are hosting cornerback Deshawn Shead on a visit.

CB DeShawn Shead is taking a free-agent visit to Buffalo to meet with the Bills, per a league source. Shead… https://t.co/zhDcF9vAp8

Shead, 28, was an undrafted free agent out of Portland State in the 2012 NFL draft and has spent the last four seasons with the Seahawks. He earned a starting role towards the end of the 2015 season and made 15 starts in 2016, recording 81 tackles, 14 pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble.

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Shead suffered a torn ACL in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs and wasn’t tendered a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent.

The 6-foot-2, 212-pounder has the length that has become a requisite of Seattle defensive backs and obviously intrigues Buffalo as a zone defender, coming from Pete Caroll’s Cover 3-heavy defense.

Shead graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 38-ranked cornerback last season, while his 81.3 run defense grade ranked 11th at the position.

Due to his injury, it’s doubtful that Shead would be ready to contribute in training camp but the fact that the Bills are bringing him for a visit is a sign that they’d potentially view him as a viable option for the future. He would provide much-needed cornerback depth behind Ronald Darby, Kevon Seymour, Charles Gaines and Marcus Roberson.

Shead was Seattle’s special teams captain in 2016 and has played outside cornerback, nickel and safety, so he possesses the versatility that coach McDermott says is necessary for his defense.

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